tourismvol1.pdf

EIATechnicalReviewGuidelines:TourismRelatedProjects

VolumeI

RegionalDocumentpreparedundertheCAFTADREnvironmentalCooperationProgramtoStrengthenEnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIA)Reviews

PreparedbyCAFTADRandU.S.CountryEIAandTourismExpertswithsupportfrom:

ThisdocumentistheresultofaregionalcollaborationundertheenvironmentalcooperationagreementsundertakenaspartoftheCentralAmericaandDominicanRepublicFreeTradeAgreementswiththeUnitedStates.Regionalexpertsparticipatedinthepreparationofthisdocument;however,theguidelinesdonotnecessarilyrepresentthepolicies,practicesorrequirementsoftheirgovernmentsororganizations.ReproductionofthisdocumentinwholeorinpartandinanyformforeducationalornonprofitpurposesmaybemadewithoutspecialpermissionfromtheUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(U.S.EPA),AgencyforInternationalDevelopment(U.S.AID),and/ortheCentralAmericanCommissiononEnvironmentandDevelopment(CCAD)providedacknowledgementofthesourceisincluded.

EPA/315R11003August2011

EIATechnicalReviewGuidelines:TourismRelatedProjects

VolumeI

TheEIATechnicalReviewGuidelinesforTourismRelatedProjectsweredevelopedaspartofaregionalcollaboration to better ensure proposed tourismrelated projects undergoing review by governmentofficials, nongovernmental organizations and the general public successfully identify, avoid, preventand/ormitigatepotentialadverseimpactsandenhancepotentialbeneficialimpactsthroughoutthelifeof the projects. The guidelines are part of a broader program to strengthen environmental impactassessment(EIA)reviewunderenvironmentalcooperationagreementsassociatedwiththeCAFTADRfree trade agreement between the United States and five countries in Central America and theDominicanRepublic.TheguidelinesandexampletermsofreferencewerepreparedbyregionalexpertsfromtheCAFTADRcountries and the United States in government organizations responsible for the environment andtourismandleadingacademicinstitutions,designatedbytherespectiveMinisters,supportedbytheU.S.Agency for InternationalDevelopment (U.S.AID) contract for the Environment and Labor ExcellenceProgramandagrantwiththeCentralAmericaCommissionforEnvironmentandDevelopment(CCAD).The guidelines draw upon existingmaterials from CAFTADR countries, other countries outside theregion, and international organizations. The guidelines do not represent the policies, practices orrequirementsofanyonecountryororganization.The guidelines are available in English and Spanish on the international websites of the U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency (U.S.EPA),the InternationalNetwork forEnvironmentalComplianceand Enforcement (INECE), and the Central American Commission on Environment andDevelopment(CCAD): www.epa.gov/oita/ www.inece.org/ www.sica.int/ccad/ Volume 1 contains theguidelines with a glossary and references which track with internationally recognized elements ofenvironmentalimpactassessment;Volume2containsAppendiceswithdetailedinformationontourism,requirementsand standards,predictive tools,and international codes;andVolume1Part2 containsexample Terms of Reference crosslinked toVolumes 1 and 2 for resort/hotel/condo developments,concessions,andcoastalandmarineprojectsrespectivelyforusebythecountriesastheypreparetheirownEIAprogramrequirements.

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VolumeIEIATechnicalReviewGuidelines:Tourism TABLEOFCONTENTS

CAFTADRANDUSCOUNTRYEXPERTSSUPPORTEDBYUSAIDENVIRONMENTANDLABOREXCELLENCECCADUSEPAPROGRAM i

TABLEOFCONTENTS

A. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................11 BACKGROUND.......................................................................................................................................12 APPROACH............................................................................................................................................23 OBJECTIVESOFPRIORITYSECTOREIAGUIDELINESFORTOURISM............................................................34 SCOPEANDCONTENTSOFTOURISMGUIDELINES...................................................................................35 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..........................................................................................................................4

B. EIAPROCESSANDPUBLICPARTICIPATION..............................................................................................71 EIAPROCEDURES...................................................................................................................................71.1 ProjectProponents:FromProjectInitiationtotheEIAApplication.................................................................71.2 EIAApplication,ScreeningandCategorization................................................................................................71.3 ScopingofEIAandTermsofReference............................................................................................................91.4 PublicParticipationthroughouttheProcess....................................................................................................91.5 PreparationandSubmissionoftheEIADocument........................................................................................101.6 EIADocumentReview....................................................................................................................................101.7 DecisiononProject.........................................................................................................................................111.8 CommitmentLanguageforEnvironmentalMeasures...................................................................................111.9 ImplementationofEnvironmentalMeasures................................................................................................111.10 Auditing,MonitoringandFollowupEnforcementofCommitments.............................................................112 PUBLICPARTICIPATION.........................................................................................................................122.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................................................122.2 RequirementsforPublicParticipation............................................................................................................122.3 MethodsforIdentifyingandEngagingAffectedandInterestedPublic.........................................................132.4 ReportingonandResponsivenesstoPublicComments................................................................................15

C. PROJECTANDALTERNATIVESDESCRIPTION..........................................................................................171 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................172 DOCUMENTATIONOFPURPOSEANDNEED...........................................................................................183 PROJECTDESCRIPTION..........................................................................................................................183.1 GeneralInformation.......................................................................................................................................193.2 OverallProjectDescriptionInformation.........................................................................................................193.3 ProjectScope:AllProjectPhasesandRelatedorConnectedActions............................................................213.4 ProjectDetails................................................................................................................................................213.5 Maps,Diagrams,SiteDesignandPlan...........................................................................................................223.6 DetailsonConstructionProcedures...............................................................................................................233.7 Transportation:Roads,Pathways,AirStrips,andBoatFacilities...................................................................263.8 Hotel,ResortandRestaurantFacilities..........................................................................................................283.9 MarineandCoastal.........................................................................................................................................33


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4 EXPECTEDRELEASESTOTHEENVIRONMENTANDDEMANDSONRESOURCES.........................................354.1 WaterandSanitationFacilities.......................................................................................................................354.2 SolidandHazardousWaste............................................................................................................................375 PROJECTALTERNATIVES........................................................................................................................405.1 IdentificationandAssessment.......................................................................................................................415.2 TypesofAlternativesforTourismDevelopment............................................................................................415.3 AlternativeEnvironmentalManagementandControl...................................................................................446 MANPOWERANDLOCALPURCHASES...................................................................................................477 CLOSURE...............................................................................................................................................47

D. ENVIRONMENTALSETTING...................................................................................................................491 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................492 PHYSICALENVIRONMENT.....................................................................................................................522.1 GeologyandSoils...........................................................................................................................................522.2 WaterResources............................................................................................................................................532.3 AirandClimate...............................................................................................................................................562.4 NoiseandVibration........................................................................................................................................572.5 AestheticResources.......................................................................................................................................582.6 RiskAssessmentfromNaturalHazards..........................................................................................................583 BIOLOGICALENVIRONMENT.................................................................................................................583.1 Flora................................................................................................................................................................593.2 Fauna..............................................................................................................................................................603.3 Ecosystems.....................................................................................................................................................603.4 EndangeredorThreatenedSpeciesandHabitats..........................................................................................623.5 ProtectedAreasandSensitiveEcosystems....................................................................................................633.6 BaseLineandMonitoringReefforthecountriesoftheCAFTADR...............................................................644 SOCIALECONOMICCULTURALENVIRONMENT....................................................................................654.1 SocioEconomicConditionsandResources....................................................................................................654.2 InfrastructureSystemsandEquipment..........................................................................................................664.3 Cultural,Archeological,CeremonialandHistoricResources..........................................................................694.4 LandUse.........................................................................................................................................................70

E. POTENTIALIMPACTS............................................................................................................................731 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................732 PHYSICALENVIRONMENT.....................................................................................................................742.1 Geology,SoilsandOceanTopography...........................................................................................................742.2 WaterResources............................................................................................................................................772.3 AirResources..................................................................................................................................................782.4 NoiseandVibration........................................................................................................................................792.5 AestheticResources.......................................................................................................................................803 BIOLOGICALENVIRONMENT.................................................................................................................803.1 TerrestrialSpeciesandAssociatedEcosystems..............................................................................................823.2 AquaticEcosystems........................................................................................................................................833.3 Marine/CoastalSpeciesandAssociatedEcosystems.....................................................................................843.4 EndangeredorThreatenedSpeciesandHabitatsandProtectedAreas........................................................86


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4 SOCIALECONOMICCULTURALENVIRONMENT.....................................................................................864.1 VulnerablePopulations..................................................................................................................................874.2 Infrastructure:Systems,Equipment,Capacity,Performance........................................................................884.3 Cultural,Archeological,CeremonialandHistoricResources..........................................................................884.4 LandUse.........................................................................................................................................................905 IDENTIFYINGCUMULATIVEIMPACTS.....................................................................................................905.1 IdentifyingResourcesthatHavePotentialforCumulativeImpacts...............................................................915.2 Regional,SectoralorStrategicAssessment....................................................................................................92

F. ASSESSINGIMPACTS:PREDICTIVETOOLSANDCONSIDERATIONS..........................................................951 OVERVIEWOFUSINGPREDICTIVETOOLSFORANEIA.............................................................................951.1 GroundRules:BasicConsiderationsforPredictingImpacts...........................................................................951.2 GeographicBoundariesforAssessmentofImpacts.......................................................................................961.3 Baseline..........................................................................................................................................................991.4 EvaluationoftheSignificanceofImpacts.......................................................................................................991.5 DataRequirementsandSources..................................................................................................................1052 GENERALAPPROACHESFORPREDICTIONOFIMPACTS.........................................................................1052.1 PredictiveTools............................................................................................................................................1052.2 GeographicInformationSystemsandVisualizationTools...........................................................................1062.3 SelectingandApplyingQuantitativePredictiveTools..................................................................................1063 SOILSANDGEOLOGYIMPACTASSESSMENTTOOLS..............................................................................1083.1 SoilLossandErosionPotential.....................................................................................................................1083.2 BeachErosion...............................................................................................................................................1093.3 GeologicResourcesandHazards..................................................................................................................1103.4 DredgeandFillOperationsandTheirImpacts.............................................................................................1114 WATERRESOURCESIMPACTASSESSMENTTOOLS................................................................................1124.1 SurfaceWaterImpactAssessmentTools.....................................................................................................1124.2 GroundwaterImpactAssessmentTools.......................................................................................................1194.3 CoastalWatersResourceImpactAssessmentTools....................................................................................1215 AIRRESOURCESIMPACTASSESSMENTTOOLS......................................................................................1296 NOISEIMPACTASSESSMENTTOOLS....................................................................................................1317 AESTHETIC/VISUALRESOURCEIMPACTASSESSMENTTOOLS...............................................................1328 FLORA,FAUNA,ECOSYSTEMSANDPROTECTEDAREASIMPACTASSESSMENTTOOLS............................1338.1 TerrestrialResourcesImpactAssessmentTools..........................................................................................1358.2 AquaticResourcesImpactAssessmentTools...............................................................................................1359 SOCIOECONOMICCONDITIONS,INFRASTRUCTUREANDLANDUSE.....................................................13610 CULTURAL,ARCHEOLOGICAL,CEREMONIALANDHISTORICRESOURCES...............................................13811 VULNERABLEPOPULATIONS................................................................................................................13812 HEALTHANDSAFETYIMPACTASSESSMENTTOOLS..............................................................................13812.1 HealthImpactAssessmentTools..................................................................................................................13812.2 PublicSafetyImpactAssessmentTools........................................................................................................139


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13 CUMULATIVEIMPACTSASSESSMENTMETHODS............................................14013.1 ResourceandEcosystemComponents.........................................................................................................14113.2 GeographicBoundariesandTimePeriod.....................................................................................................14113.3 DescribingtheConditionoftheEnvironment..............................................................................................14213.4 UsingThresholdstoAssessResourceDegradation......................................................................................14314 CARRYINGCAPACITY...........................................................................................................................146

G. MITIGATIONANDMONITORINGMEASURES.......................................................................................1511 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................1512 GENERALMITIGATIONANDMONITORINGMEASURES.........................................................................1533 SPECIFICMITIGATIONMEASURES........................................................................................................1803.1 SeismicEvents..............................................................................................................................................1813.2 ProcessandWastewaterDischarges............................................................................................................1813.3 Noise.............................................................................................................................................................1834 PROJECTSPECIFICMITIGATIONMEASURES..........................................................................................1854.1 GolfCourses(TableG8)...............................................................................................................................1854.2 CruiseShips(TableG11)..............................................................................................................................1895 MONITORINGANDOVERSIGHT...........................................................................................................1916 FINANCIALASSURANCE.......................................................................................................................1936.1 FinancialGuaranteesforMitigationandMonitoringMeasuresandRestoration.......................................1937 AUDITABLEANDENFORCEABLECOMMITMENTLANGUAGE.................................................................1947.1 ConstructionPractices..................................................................................................................................1957.2 FlowReleasesandMonitoring.....................................................................................................................1977.3 EndangeredSpeciesManagement...............................................................................................................197

H. ENVIRONMENTALMANAGEMENTPLAN..............................................................................................199

I. GLOSSARYANDREFERENCES...............................................................................................................2071 GLOSSARY..........................................................................................................................................2072 REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................................2232.1 CitedReferences...........................................................................................................................................2232.2 AdditionalReferences..................................................................................................................................227

J. EXAMPLETERMSOFREFERENCE(TOR)................................................................................................233


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LISTOFFIGURESFigureA1:CAFTADRcountries...................................................................................................................................1FigureB1:Theenvironmentalimpactassessmentprocess........................................................................................8FigureC1:Infrastructuretostoresolidwaste...........................................................................................................45FigureE1:Identifyingpotentialcumulativeeffectsissuesrelatedtoproposedaction............................................93FigureF1:AsianDevelopmentBankrapidenvironmentalassessmentchecklistgeneral....................................102FigureF2:SamplepagefromtheLeopoldMatrix...................................................................................................103FigureF3:ComplexCoastalProcesses....................................................................................................................122FigureF4:HazusMH5stepriskassessment..........................................................................................................123FigureF5:FEMAfloodplainmappingmodelsuite..................................................................................................124FigureF6:Conceptualframeworktoassessecosystemservices............................................................................135LISTOFTABLESTableB1:"Responsibility"intheEIAprocess...............................................................................................................9TableC1:InformationtobeincludedintheEIAfortheconstructionphase.............................................................24TableC2:ProjectdetailInformationfortransportationneeds..................................................................................27TableC3:Projectdescriptioninformationforhotelandresortprojects...................................................................29TableC4:Projectdetailsforconcessions...................................................................................................................31TableC5:Projectdetailsformarine/coastaldevelopments......................................................................................33TableC6:Waterconsumptionperguestpernight(inliters).....................................................................................35TableC7:WaterconsumptionandwastewatergenerationinHotelsintheUnitedStates......................................36TableC8:Projectdetailsforwaterandsanitation.....................................................................................................37TableC9:Projectdetailsforwastemanagement.......................................................................................................38TableC10:Largepassengercruiseshipwastegenerationanddisposal....................................................................39TableC11:Projectdetailsforenergyfacilities...........................................................................................................40TableE1:Potentialimpactsongeologyandsoilresourcesfromtourismdevelopment..........................................76TableE2:Potentialimpactsonwaterresourcesfromtourismdevelopment...........................................................78TableE3:Potentialimpactsonairresourcesfromtourismdevelopment................................................................79TableE4:Potentialimpactsnoiseandvibrationfromtourismdevelopment...........................................................80TableE5:Potentialimpactsonbiologicalenvironmentfromtourismdevelopment...............................................81TableE6:Socialeconomicimpactsthatmayoccurfromtourismprojects..............................................................86TableE7:Impactstoexistinginfrastructure..............................................................................................................88TableE8:Impactstoculturalarchitecturalceremonialhistoricresources..............................................................89TableF1:Dredgeandfillmodels.............................................................................................................................111TableF2:Surfacewatermodels..............................................................................................................................116TableF3:Groundwaterandgeochemicalcomputermodels..................................................................................120TableF4:Hazardsanalysisandcoastalmodels.......................................................................................................125TableF5:Airpollutionmodels.................................................................................................................................130TableF6:Visualimpactanalysistools.....................................................................................................................133


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TableF7:Easeofspreadofarangeofdiseaseswhichcanbetransmittedfromtravelerstohostsandtheirlevelofimpactonthehostindividual.................................................................................................................139

TableF8:Primaryandspecialmethodsforanalyzingcumulativeimpacts.............................................................145TableF9:Carryingcapacitymodels.........................................................................................................................149TableG1:Mitigationandmonitoringmeasuresforphysicalandbiologicalimpactscommontoconstructionof

mosttourismprojects.............................................................................................................................154TableG2:Mitigationandmonitoringmeasuresforphysicalandbiologicalimpactscommontotheoperationof

mosttourismprojects.............................................................................................................................172TableG3:Mitigationandmonitoringmeasuresforphysicalandbiologicalimpactscommontomostthe

decommissioningoftourismprojects.....................................................................................................178TableG4:Mitigationmeasuresforimpactstothesocialeconomicculturalenvironment....................................179TableG5:LegallybindingeffluentlimitsdefinedintheLBSProtocol.....................................................................182TableG6:CompliancetimelineasdefinedintheLBSProtocol...............................................................................183TableG7:Noiselevelguidelines..............................................................................................................................184TableG8:Specificmitigationmeasuresforhotels,resorts,restaurantsandattractions.......................................185TableG9:Specificmitigationmeasuresforrestaurants..........................................................................................187TableG10:Specificmitigationmeasuresforgolfcourses........................................................................................188TableG11:Specificmitigationmeasuresforcruiseships........................................................................................189TableG12:Marinedevelopmentimpacts,managementandmitigation................................................................190TableG13:NGOrecommendationsforfinancialguarantees..................................................................................194TableH1:Componentsofanenvironmentalmanagementplan:programandplanelements..............................199


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VOLUMEIIAPPENDICESTABLEOFCONTENTSAPPENDIXA. WHATISTOURISM?.................................................................................................................11 TYPESOFTOURISM...............................................................................................................................11.1 LeisureTourism...............................................................................................................................................11.2 OtherFormsofTourism..................................................................................................................................12 COMPONENTSOFTOURISM..................................................................................................................2APPENDIXB. OVERVIEWOFTOURISMACTIVITIESINCAFTADRCOUNTRIES.................................................31 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................32 REGIONALOVERVIEW...........................................................................................................................32.1 EconomicImportanceofTourism...................................................................................................................32.2 TourismandtheEnvironment.........................................................................................................................52.3 RegionalInstitutions........................................................................................................................................73 CAFTADRCOUNTRYOVERVIEWS..........................................................................................................93.1 CostaRica........................................................................................................................................................93.2 DominicanRepublic.......................................................................................................................................113.3 ElSalvador.....................................................................................................................................................133.4 Guatemala.....................................................................................................................................................153.5 Honduras.......................................................................................................................................................173.6 Nicaragua......................................................................................................................................................19APPENDIXC. REQUIREMENTSANDSTANDARDSAPPLICABLEWITHINCAFTADRCOUNTRIES,OTHER

COUNTRIESANDINTERNATIONALORGANIZATIONS................................................................211 INTRODUCTIONTOENVIRONMENTALLAWS,STANDARDS,ANDREQUIREMENTS..................................222 AMBIENTSTANDARDSFORAIRANDWATERQUALITY..........................................................................253 HOTELANDRESORTPERFORMANCESTANDARDS:................................................................................383.1 HotelandResortWaterDischarge/EffluentLimits.....................................................................................383.2 SupplementalU.S.WaterDischarge/EffluentLimits...................................................................................413.3 HotelandResortStormWaterDischargePerformanceRequirements........................................................413.4 HotelsandResortsAirEmissionLimits.........................................................................................................424 MARINEANDOTHERWATERVESSELPERFORMANCESTANDARS:.........................................................434.1 WaterDischarge/EffluentLimitsforVessels...............................................................................................434.2 MarineandOtherWaterVessel:AirEmissionLimits....................................................................................454.3 MarineandOtherVessel:SolidWaste..........................................................................................................565 BIODIVERSITY/ECOSYSTEMS................................................................................................................585.1 ProtectionofCoralReefs..............................................................................................................................585.2 SpeciallyProtectedAreas..............................................................................................................................605.3 AquaticInvasiveSpecies................................................................................................................................606 INTERNATIONALTREATIESANDAGREEMENTS.....................................................................................607 TOURISMSECTORWEBSITEREFERENCES..............................................................................................63


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APPENDIXD. RULESOFTHUMBFOREROSIONANDSEDIMENTATIONCONTROL..........................................65APPENDIXE. SAMPLINGANDANALYSISPLAN.............................................................................................791 INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................791.1 SiteNameorSamplingArea..........................................................................................................................791.2 SiteorSamplingAreaLocation.....................................................................................................................791.3 ResponsibleOrganization..............................................................................................................................791.4 ProjectOrganization......................................................................................................................................791.5 StatementoftheSpecificProblem................................................................................................................802 BACKGROUND.....................................................................................................................................802.1 SiteorSamplingAreaDescription[Fillintheblanks.]...................................................................................802.2 OperationalHistory.......................................................................................................................................802.3 PreviousInvestigations/RegulatoryInvolvement.........................................................................................812.4 GeologicalInformation..................................................................................................................................812.5 Environmentaland/orHumanImpact..........................................................................................................813 PROJECTDATAQUALITYOBJECTIVES....................................................................................................813.1 ProjectTaskandProblemDefinition.............................................................................................................813.2 DataQualityObjectives(DQOs)....................................................................................................................813.3 DataQualityIndicators(DQIs).......................................................................................................................813.4 DataReviewandValidation..........................................................................................................................823.5 DataManagement.........................................................................................................................................833.6 AssessmentOversight...................................................................................................................................834 SAMPLINGRATIONALE.........................................................................................................................834.1 SoilSampling.................................................................................................................................................834.2 SedimentSampling........................................................................................................................................834.3 WaterSampling.............................................................................................................................................844.4 BiologicalSampling........................................................................................................................................845 REQUESTFORANALYSES......................................................................................................................845.1 AnalysesNarrative.........................................................................................................................................855.2 AnalyticalLaboratory....................................................................................................................................856 FIELDMETHODSANDPROCEDURES......................................................................................................856.1 FieldEquipment............................................................................................................................................856.2 FieldScreening..............................................................................................................................................856.3 Soil.................................................................................................................................................................866.4 SedimentSampling........................................................................................................................................886.5 WaterSampling.............................................................................................................................................886.6 BiologicalSampling........................................................................................................................................926.7 DecontaminationProcedures........................................................................................................................927 SAMPLECONTAINERS,PRESERVATIONANDSTORAGE..........................................................................937.1 SoilSamples...................................................................................................................................................947.2 SedimentSamples.........................................................................................................................................947.3 WaterSamples..............................................................................................................................................957.4 BiologicalSamples.........................................................................................................................................968 DISPOSALOFRESIDUALMATERIALS.....................................................................................................96


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9 SAMPLEDOCUMENTATIONANDSHIPMENT.........................................................................................989.1 FieldNotes.....................................................................................................................................................989.2 Labeling.........................................................................................................................................................999.3 SampleChainOfCustodyFormsandCustodySeals.....................................................................................999.4 PackagingandShipment.............................................................................................................................10010 QUALITYCONTROL............................................................................................................................10110.1 FieldQualityControlSamples.....................................................................................................................10110.2 LaboratoryQualityControlSamples...........................................................................................................10611 FIELDVARIANCES...............................................................................................................................10712 FIELDHEALTHANDSAFETYPROCEDURES...........................................................................................108APPENDIXF. COMPENSATORYMITIGATIONFORLOSSESOFAQUATICRESOURCES.109


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VolumeIEIATechnicalReviewGuidelines:Tourism A.INTRODUCTION

CAFTADRANDUSCOUNTRYEXPERTSSUPPORTEDBYUSAIDENVIRONMENTANDLABOREXCELLENCECCADUSEPAPROGRAM 1

A. INTRODUCTIONTheseregionalEnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIA)TechnicalReviewGuidelinesandassociatedExampleTermsofReferencefortourismrelatedprojectsweredevelopedasanoutgrowthoftheEnvironmentalCooperationAgreementdevelopedinconjunctionwiththefreetradeagreementsbetweentheUnitedStates,theCentralAmericancountriesofCostaRica,ElSalvador,Guatemala,Honduras,andNicaraguaandtheDominicanRepublic(CAFTADR).Developedbydesignatedexpertsfromallofthecountries,itcanbeusedasabasisforcountryspecificadaptationtotheirEIAprograms.1 BACKGROUNDTheCAFTADRProgramtoStrengthenEnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIA)Reviewwasinitiatedasapriorityforenvironmentalcooperationundertakenandfundedinconjunctionwiththefreetradeagreements.Designedtobuildonrelatedreferencesdevelopedfortheregionorforindividualcountries,theProgramincluded:a)sustainabletrainingtobuildskillsinthepreparationandreviewofEIAdocumentsandprocessesforallparticipantsintheprocess,includinggovernmentofficials,consultants,industryprojectproponents,academicinstitutions,NGOsandthepublic;b)developmentofEIATechnicalReviewGuidelinesandTermsofReferenceforprioritysectors:mining,energy,andtourism;c)countryspecificconsultationtoprovidetoolsandreformstoimprovetheefficiencyandeffectivenessofEIA,includingdeploymentofEPAsGISbasedanalyticaltooltosupportEIAprojectscreeningandadministrativetrackingsystems;d)recommendationsforstrengtheningEIAprocedures,andwherenecessary,regionalandcountryEIAlegalframeworks;ande)regionalmeetingsamongEIADirectorstodirectandsupporttheseactivitiesandshareexperiences.WorkprogramsdevelopedbytheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(USEPA)andU.S.AgencyforInternationalDevelopment(USAID),weredesignedtocomplementotherworkwhichhadbeenundertakenwiththeCentralAmericanCommissionforSustainableDevelopment(CCAD)andtheUnionfortheConservationofNature(IUCN)underagrantfromthegovernmentofSweden,whichfocusedonsmallscaleandmoderatesizedtouristdevelopments,excludingmarinas,piersandcruiselineoperations.

FigureA 1:CAFTADRcountries



2 APPROACHTheguidelinesweredevelopedthroughacollaborativeprocessconsistingoftworegionalexpertmeetingsfordiscussionfollowedbyseveralroundsofreviewandcommentondraftdocuments,andalsobenefittedfromtheoverallguidanceandactiveinvolvementofcountryEIADirectors.TheworkwassupportedbyUSAIDandtheirconsultantsundertheEnvironmentandLaborExcellenceProgram(ELE).TheoverallapproachtothedevelopmentoftheTourismSectorEIAReviewGuidelinesandTermsofReferencewas:

a. CreationofanexpertteamincludingthedesignationofseniorexpertsbytheMinistersoftheEnvironmentandfortheTourismSectorfromeachoftheCAFTADRcountriesandtheU.S.(drawnfromU.S.EPAsseniorexpertEIAReviewersandsectorexpertsfromwithinUSEPA,theDepartmentoftheInteriorsNationalParkService,theDepartmentofCommercesNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministrationparticularlythenationalmarinefisheryservice,theU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineersandPuertoRicosTourismCompany,EnvironmentalQualityBoardandDepartmentofNaturalandEnvironmentalResources)

b. OrganizationoftworegionalexpertmeetingstoreviewandguideallworkproductsdraftedwiththeassistanceofaUSAIDsEnvironmentandLaborExcellencecontractor,ChemonicsInternational

c. Identificationofexistingresourcematerials,standards,practices,lawsandguidelinesrelatedtoassessingtheenvironmentalimpactsfromtourismrelatedprojectswithparticularemphasisonensuringthatwedrewfromguidelinesdevelopedfortheCAFTADRregionthroughCCAD,IUCNandUSAIDontourismbestpracticesandfrominternationalagreements,includinginparticulartheProtocolConcerningPollutionfromLandBasedSourcesandActivities(LBSProtocol,1999)undertheConventionfortheProtectionandDevelopmentoftheMarineEnvironmentoftheWiderCaribbeanRegion(CartagenaConvention,1983),theInternationalConventionforthePreventionofPollutionfromShips(MARPOL,1973/1978),andtheConventiononthePreventionofMarinePollutionbyDumpingWastesandOtherMatter(LondonConvention,1972)

d. Developmentofbaselineinformationoncurrentpractice,anticipatedgrowth,existingstandardsandguidance,norms,permitsandmitigationrequirementsrelatedtotourismintheCAFTADRcountriesandusethistoassessthelikelyimpactofadoptionoftheregionalguidelines

e. Developmentofinformationonalternativesforpollutioncontrolandenvironmentalprotectiondrawnfrombenchmarkorganizations,developmentbanksandcountriesincludinginternationalpracticesestablishedbyindustry,theWorldBank,theInterAmericanDevelopmentBank,theU.S.,theEuropeanUnionandothercountriesidentifiedbytheteamofexpertsasbeingmostrelevant

f. Developmentofoptionstoachievethebenefitsofrequiringsiting,design,construction,operation,closure/reclamation,andsitereuseapproacheswhicheliminate,reduce,and/ormitigatetheadversedirect,indirectand/orcumulativeadverseenvironmentalimpactsrelatedtotourismbasedonbestinternationalpracticethroughEIAReviewGuidelinesandTermsofReference

g. AdaptationoftheseGuidelinesfollowingregionaltrainingworkshopstobeheldbytheCCAD



3 OBJECTIVESOFPRIORITYSECTOREIAGUIDELINESFORTOURISMSpecificobjectivesoftheseGuidelinesinclude:

a. Improveenvironmentalperformanceinthesectorb. ImproveEIAdocumentqualityandqualityofEIAdecisionmakingforthetourismsectorc. ImproveefficiencyandeffectivenessoftheEIAprocessforthetourismsectorbyclarifying

expectations,providingdetailedguidelinesandaligningdocumentpreparationandreviewd. TailorguidelinestoneedsofCAFTADRcountriese. Providetechnicalguidelinesfortheidentificationofenvironmental,socialandeconomic

impactsofthetourismsectoractivitiesf. Identifypotentialforavoidanceandmitigationforadverseenvironmental,socialandeconomic

impactsfromthetourismsectorinrelationtoestablishedrequirementsoflawandindustrybestpracticetoempoweroptionsforconsiderationbyindustryandgovernmentofficials

g. Encouragepublicparticipationthroughouttheprocess,aspecificpriorityandrequestofCAFTADRcountryofficials

4 SCOPEANDCONTENTSOFTOURISMGUIDELINESTheGuidelinesaddress:

Threegroupsoftouristrelatedprojects:a)hotel/resortdevelopmentforthehousing,careandfeedingoftourists,b)concessionstosupporttouristrecreational/adventure/specialtyactivitiesrelatedtonaturalandcultural/historicsitesandareas,andc)coastalandmarinerelatedprojectssuchasmarinaoperations,beachmanagement,andcruiseshipactivities.Itdoesnotaddresshighlyspecializedtypesoftourismsuchasmedicaltourism.ThisguidelinebuildsupontheworkofIUCNtourismguidelinewhichfocusesonsmallandmediumscaletouristdevelopments.ItalsodrawsheavilyupontheworkoftheInternationalNetworkforEnvironmentalComplianceandEnforcement(INECE)tourismsupportdocument.

Thefullscopeoftourismrelatedprojects,includingsiteassessments,selectionofapreferredsite,sitepreparation,mitigationplantoprotectvaluableandsensitiveresources,construction,operationandmaintenance,monitoringandsitemanagement,closure/reclamation,postclosurecare,andforeseeableandrelatedoffsiteactivities

Documentationoftheproposedprojectanditsalternativestosupportimpactassessmentandimprovedecisionmaking

Identifyingandevaluatingpotentialenvironmentalsocial,culturalandeconomicimpacts Evaluatingthefullrangeofsustainableenvironmentalmeasurestoprevent,reduceand/or

mitigateimpacts TheneedforenforceableandauditablecommitmentlanguageinanEIAtoensurethat

promisedactionswillbetakenbyaprojectproponentandthattheiradequacycanbedeterminedovertimeandaltered,asneeded,toprotectsensitiveandvaluableresources

ExampletermsofreferencefordevelopmentoftourismrelatedEIAsthatarecrosslinkedtothedetailsprovidedintheGuidelines

TheGuidelinesareorganizedaroundeachaspectofwhatistypicallyrequiredinanEIAdocument.Theguidelinesaredividedintotensectionswithaccompanyingappendices.Thesectionsinclude:

A. IntroductionB. EIAProceduresandPublicParticipationC. ProjectandAlternativesDescription



D. EnvironmentalSettingE. PotentialImpactsF. AssessingImpactsG. MitigationandMonitoringMeasuresH. EnvironmentalManagementPlansI. ReferencesandGlossaryofTermsJ. ExampleTermsofReferenceforTourismdevelopment,concessions,andcoastalandmarine

relatedtouristprojects(publishedinaseparateVolume1Part2)Theaccompanyingappendices(publishedinaseparateVolume2)include:

AppendixA:WhatisTourism?AppendixB:OverviewofTourismActivitiesinCAFTADRCountriesAppendixC:RequirementsandStandards:CAFTADRCountries,USandOtherCountriesand

InternationalorganizationsAppendixD:RulesofThumbforErosionandSedimentationControlMeasuresAppendixE:SamplingandAnalysisPlanAppendixF:CompensatoryMitigationforLossesofAquaticResources

5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSTheEIATechnicalReviewGuidelinesforTourismRelatedProjectsandassociatedTermsofReferenceweredevelopedbyexpertsdesignatedbytheirMinistersfromtheenvironmentalandsectoragenciesoftheUnitedStatesandcountriesinCentralAmericaandtheDominicanRepublicthatarepartiestotheCAFTADRFreeTradeAgreements.FollowingdevelopmentoftheregionalEIAtourismdocuments,theCCADwillhostworkshopsineachoftheCAFTADRcountriesandtheycanadapttheseguidelinesfortheirownuse.USEPAUSAID/ProgramforEnvironmentandLaborExcellenceELECCADCAFTADRProgramTeamtoStrengthenEIAReview

U.S.AgencyforInternationalDevelopment(USAID) RubnAlemn,ContractingOfficerTechnicalRepresentative,COTR,USAIDRegional

Program OrlandoAltamirano,CAFTADRRegionalEnvironmentalSpecialist WalterJokisch,ConsultantforELE/ChemonicsInternational,Inc. PhilBrown,LeadExpertConsultantforELE/ChemonicsInternational,Inc. LaneKrahl,SeniorEIAAdvisorforELE/ChemonicsInternational,Inc. JenniferMyton,ConsultantforELE/ChemonicsInternational,Inc.

CentralAmericanCommissionforSustainableDevelopment(CCAD) RicardoAguilar,CCAD,CAFTADRprogramcoordinator JudithPanameo,CCAD,CAFTADR,EPAprogramcoordinator

U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(USEPA) OrlandoGonzlez,coordinator,CAFTADROfficeofInternationalandTribalAffairs CherylWasserman,AssociateDirectorforPolicyAnalysis,OfficeofFederalActivities,Office

ofEnforcementandComplianceAssurance,ManageroftheCAFTADRProgramtoStrengthenEIAReview



RegionalExpertTeamUNITEDSTATESCherylWasserman,AssociateDirectorforPolicyAnalysis,U.S.EPA,OfficeofFederalActivities,and

BrittanyEricksen,legalinternTeresaKubo,SeniorEIAReviewer,US.EPARegionX,Seattle,WashingtonMariaClark,SeniorEIAReviewerforPuertoRico,U.S.EPARegionII,NewYork,NewYorkPamTeel,formercoordinator,CAFTADRprogramandShereenKandil,onpublicparticipationPatrickCotter,coordinatorforinternationalmarinetreatiesandtheWiderCaribbeanRegion,andSean

Carpenter,intern,U.S.EPA,OfficeofInternationalandTribalAffairsDarrylBrown,U.S.EPAOfficeofWater,OceansandWetlandsDivisionJocelynAdkins,U.S.EPAOfficeofGeneralCounselKerriCahillandJimBacon,NationalParkServiceRalphCantralandPatienceWhitten,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministrationThomasFerdetteandTyWamsley,U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,EnvironmentandTourismOfficials

fromPuertoRicoExpertsfromtheGovernmentofPuertoRico:

HildaOrtizandWilliamPitre,PuertoRicoTourismCompanyErnestoDazVelazquezandVicenteQuevedo,PuertoRicoDepartmentofNaturalandEnvironmentalResourcesOneidaDelgado,andLcda.BlanchGonzlez,PuertoRicoEnvironmentalQualityBoardSra.MaraNegrn,OfficeofGeneralPermitsandEnforcement,OGPE

COSTARICAJhauryPizarroObandoRobertoEsquivelBenavidesAlbertoLopezChavesFranciscoFernandezVargasGustavoAlvaradoChvezDOMINCANREPUBLICDomingaConcepcinPolancodeGmezFrancisIvetteChahedeCaldernMaribelVillalonaElSALVADOREvelynCanjuraSaraviaWalterNoelRojasOrellanaHectorCardozaLeivaHectorGaldmezMancaGUATEMALADra.EugeniaCastro,DirectoradeEIA,MARNLuisaMaraFernndezLujan,AsesoraAmbiental,MARNJorgeMarioSamayoaHONDURASDennysEdgardoCanalesMariadelosAngelesValleXeniaCardonaLezamaJuanAntonioMeza



NICARAGUASuyenGabrielaPerezAburtoLic.RaquelQuesadaMarioRodriguezNubiaRosaAragnMirandaCOUNTRYEIADIRECTORSMSc.UrielJuarezBaltodano,SETENA,CostaRicaLinadelCarmenBeriguetteSegura,MA,DominicanRepublicIng.HernnRomero,MARNElSalvadorDra.EugeniaCastro,MARN,GuatemalaJulioE.Eguigure,SERNA,HondurasHildaEspinoza,MARENA,Nicaragua

VolumeIEIATechnicalReviewGuidelines:Tourism B.EIAPROCESSANDPUBLICPARTICIPATION


B. EIAPROCESSANDPUBLICPARTICIPATIONThissectiondescribesthegeneralprocessandpracticescommontoEIAproceduresinCAFTADRcountries,alongwithlikelytrendsfuturedirectionsofthoseprogramsaspartoftheevolutionoftheEIAprocessthathasbeenseeninternationally.BecausetheseGuidelinesandTermsofReferenceweredevelopedasregionalproductsofdesignatedexpertsfromtheCAFTADRcountriestheycanbeadaptedtotheuniquefeaturesineachcountrysEIAlawsandprocedures.1 EIAPROCEDURESNoworkmaybegin,thatisnositeclearing,sitepreparationorconstruction,beforetheEIAprocessiscompleteandgovernmentagencieshaveeitherapprovedorprovidedconditionedapprovalofaproposedproject.Earlyandfrequentconsultationwithgovernmentagenciesishighlydesirable.Alltoooftenconflictiscreatedwhendevelopershavegottenfairlyfardowntheroadwiththeirprojectplanningwithoutappropriateconsultation.Earlyconsultationcouldhaveavoidedmanyofthoseproblems.1.1 ProjectProponents:FromProjectInitiationtotheEIAApplicationAsillustratedinFigureB1,aprojectproponentinitiatestheideaforaprojectbasedonapurposeandneedfortheaction;inthisinstancesomeanticipatedmarketforaparticulartouristdestinationandexpectedprofitsfromthe.BetweentheideaandtheapplicationforEIAtothegovernmentforapprovalasdefinedinTableB1(ResponsibilityintheEIAProcess),theprojectproponentwillbeexploringalternativestomeetthepurposeandneedoftheproject,aswellastheeconomicandtechnicalfeasibilityoftheprojectandsecuringpropertyrightsifitisnotalreadyintheirpossession.Itisduringthisearlystagethatenvironmental,socialandeconomicimpactsshouldbeintroduced,andalternativesdevelopedevenbeforeanapplicationismadeforEIA.Manyproblemscanbeavoidedthroughwiseselectionoftheprojectlocation,siteandoperationsdesign,andanticipationofissuessuchasclosuretakingthewholeoftheenvironmentalsettingintoaccountearlyintheprocess.Ifenvironmentalconsultantsorenvironmentalimpactexpertisearebroughtinlateintheprocess,atthestagewhentheproponentneedstoprepareanapplicationandanEIAdocumentforapproval,itlimitstheopportunitiestobuildenvironmental,socialandeconomicconsiderationsintotheprojectproposalasanintegralpartofdevelopingprojectfeasibility.Thisisuniversallyconsideredtobeashortsightedpractice.Projectswhichrequiresubstantialfinancingoftenwillhavefatalflawanalysesofallsortsperformed,includingenvironmental.Someoftheoutcomesofsuchanalysesalsofeedthenarrativeonprojectalternativesandwhysomeofthealternativeswererejected.1.2 EIAApplication,ScreeningandCategorizationEachCAFTADRcountryhasestablisheditsownEIAregulationsandguidelinesdefiningdifferentcircumstancesandproceduresforparticulartypesofprojectsandsituations.Theseregulationsdistinguishthesizeandnatureofproposedprojectsorthetypesofprojectedimpactsforwhichthefullenvironmentalimpactassessmentprocedureandwhichtypesofprojectsorimpactsmightjustifyastreamlinedprocedurebasedonanticipatedlowerlevelofimpactandnatureoftheproposedactivity.Projectsusuallyfallwithinoneofthreecategories,someofwhicharefurthersubdivided:Ausuallyishighimpact,B1andB2,mediumimpactandClowimpactbutthisvariesbycountry.ScreeningistheprocessusedbygovernmentofficialstoreviewanapplicationforEIAtodeterminetheappropriate



categorization.Forthemostpart,mostbutnotalltouristrelatedactivitiesareusuallyconsideredamongthoseprojectswithpotentiallyhighorhighmediumimpact.

FigureB1:Theenvironmentalimpactassessmentprocess

Source:PrinciplesofEnvironmentalImpactAssessment,U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,1992.



TableB1:"Responsibility"intheEIAprocess

Source:Wasserman,Cheryl,U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency.

1.3 ScopingofEIAandTermsofReferenceScopingisaprocessusedtoidentifytheimportantissuesonwhichtheEIAanalysisshouldfocusandthoseonwhichitwouldnotbeinformativetofocus.AlthoughanypreparerofanEIAwouldhavetoengageinascopingprocess,thetermoftenisusedtodescribeaprocessofconsultationwithinterestedandaffectedstakeholdersintheproject,intheareaandinfrastructurepotentiallyaffectedbytheprojectandinthepotentiallyaffectedresources.InCAFTADRcountriesofCentralAmericaandtheDominicanRepublic,governmentofficialsissueaTermsofReferencetohelpguidethepreparationofanEIAdocument,inessenceaformofscopingwhichusuallyincludesarequirementfortheprojectproponenttoengagethepublicandstakeholders,includinglocalgovernmentsandNGOsandtriballeaders,beforeproceedingtopreparetheEIAdocumentjustforthispurpose.InguidelinesissuedbytheInternationalFinanceCorporationandasapracticeintheU.S.andsomeCAFTADRcountries,theprojectproponentwouldcarryoutpublicscopingearlyintheprocessforthemostsignificanttypesofprojects,presumablytobeabletoinfluencealternativeprojectconcept,design,operationand/orclosureandinfluencetheTermsofReferenceforundertakingtheEIA.SectionB2inthissectionoftheguidelineexpandsonpublicparticipationduringthescopingprocess.1.4 PublicParticipationthroughouttheProcessEIAisintendedtobeatransparentprocesswiththeopportunityforpublicinvolvementfromtheearlieststagesofprojectdevelopment.ItiscustomaryfortheTermsofReferencetoincluderequirementsfortheprojectproponenttoengagethepublicandtodocumenttheresultsofthisoutreachprocessintheEIAdocument.CountriesshouldrequireascopingmeetingandwillusuallyprovideaformalopportunityforapublichearingaftertheEIAdocumentisreviewedbygovernmentstaffanddeterminedtobecomplete.TheModelTermsofReferenceincludedinthisguidelineemphasizestheimportanceofinvolvingthepublicasearlyaspossibletoensurethatopportunitiesfor

ProjectProponent Government4P

ublic

Participationt

hrou

ghou

t

1 InitiateProject2PrepareEIAApplication 2Screening:ReviewEIAApplicationand

Categorization3ScopeEIAIssues 3PrepareTermsofReferenceandScopeEIA

issues

5aPrepareandSubmitEIADocument 6ReviewEIADocument5bCorrectdeficienciesandrespondtocomments 7DecisiononProject 8Incorporatecommitmentsintolegal

agreements9Implementationofproject,environmentalmeasuresandfinancialassurance10Correctviolations 10Auditing,compliancemonitoringand

enforcement



reconcilingeconomic,socialandenvironmentalconcernscanbeconsidered.AspecialsectiononPublicParticipationisincludedinthisguidelineunderSectionB2.1.5 PreparationandSubmissionoftheEIADocumentThestructureofEIAdocumentationofanalysishasbeenfairlystandardizedoverthemanyyearsithasbeenadoptedasapractice.Itincludes:

Coversheet ExecutiveSummary TableofContents ProjectDescription,PurposeandNeed Alternatives,includingtheproposedaction EnvironmentalSetting AssessmentofImpacts MitigationandMonitoringMeasures CommitmentDocument:EnvironmentalManagementPlan,whichcontainsafacilitywide

monitoringplanandafacilitywidemitigationplan,whichaddressesmitigationforenvironmentalandsocioeconomicresources

Listofpreparers ListofAgencies,Organizations,andpersonstowhomcopiesofthestatementaresent Index Appendices

IncountriesinCentralAmericaandtheDominicanRepublic,deficienciesinanEIAdocumentareusuallyaddressedthroughadditionalsupplementalsubmissionsofAnnexesandcorrespondence.IfdeficienciesaresufficientlysignificantanEIAdocumentmightberejectedandtheprojectproponentwouldrestarttheentireprocess.IntheU.S.adraftEIAdocumentissubmittedforbothgovernmentandpublicreviewandafinaldocumentisthensubmittedwhichincludestheresponsetocommentsandanyadditionalanalysisthatisneeded.ARecordofDecisionfollowsthefinalEIAtoinformthegovernmentandinterestedpartieswhatalternativehasbeenselectedandthattheprojectismovingforward.1.6 EIADocumentReviewGovernmentEIAReviewershaveanindependentreviewfunctiontodetermineifanEIAsubmittedbyaprojectproponent:

a. Complieswithminimumrequirementsundercountrylaws,regulations,andprocedures,b. Iscompletec. Isaccurated. Isadequatefordecisionmakerstobeabletomakeinformeddecisionsandchoices,including

alternativesthatmightservetoavoidadverseimpacts,andreasonablecommitmentstomitigationforadverseimpactsthatcannotbeavoided

e. Distinguisheswhatmaybeasignificantconcernfromthosethatarelesssignificantf. Providesasufficientbasisforassuringthatcommitmentstoenvironmentalmeasureswillbe

met,takingintoaccountnotonlytheEIAbutanyadditionalsupportingdocumentssuchas: EnvironmentalManagementPlan Mitigationmeasureswhichareintegratedintheprojectdesign,operationsandclosure,

andtheirmaintenance



Monitoringandreportingmeasures Pollutioncontrolmeasuresandtheirmaintenance Infrastructureinvestments

1.7 DecisiononProjectInthedecisionmakingprocesswhichisinformedbytheEIAanalysis,theactualdecisionontheprojectanditsrationaleareimportant,particularlyiftheEIAanalysisisnotjusttobeapaperexercise.Itthereforeisveryimportantthattheconsiderationofalternatives,impactsandtheirmitigationbewritteninaclearandaccessiblemannertotherangeofstakeholderswhoaremakingdecisionsrelatedtotheproject.Partofthedecisionprocessisengagementofstakeholderswithinandoutsidegovernmentinatimelyandconstructivemanner,allowingforthetypeofgiveandtakeneededtoaddressandfindacceptablesolutionstodiverseinterests.1.8 CommitmentLanguageforEnvironmentalMeasuresCountriesdifferonthevehiclestheyusetoestablishandholdprojectproponentsaccountableforcommitmentsmadeduringtheEIAprocess,rangingfromrelianceontheEIAdocumentitselftoadocumentfromthegovernmentestablishingprojectenvironmentalfeasibilitywhichhighlightscommitments,theenvironmentalmanagementplan,amitigationplan,anenvironmentalpermit,concessionand/orcontract.1.9 ImplementationofEnvironmentalMeasuresTheEIAprocessobjectivescanonlybeachievedifpromisesandassumptionsmadeinanapprovedEIAdocumentarefollowedinpractice.Commitmentsareusuallysecuredwithfinancialguarantees.Thecommitmenttoimplementenvironmentalmeasuresrunsthroughouttheprocessfromsitepreparationtoclosure.Itistheresponsibilityoftheprojectproponenttoimplementmeasuresunlessthecommitmentsareassignedandagreedtobyotherpartiessuchasmightbethecaseintheprovisionofadequateinfrastructuretoaddressneedstotreatliquidandsolidwastefromasite,ortoconstructaroad.1.10 Auditing,MonitoringandFollowupEnforcementofCommitmentsCountriesemployamixofmechanismstoensurethatcommitmentsintheEIAdocumentarefollowed,including:includingshortandlongtermmonitoringandreportinginthecommitmentsbyprojectproponents;creatingandcertifyingthirdpartyauditorsanddefiningtheirrolesintheprocess;governmentinspection;andsometimesmonitoringbythecommunityorNGOstoassurecompliance.Itisnotsufficienttomonitorcompliancewithcommitments,andfailuretomeetcommitmentsshouldbefollowedbyenforcementforfailuretocomplyinordertocompelactionsneededtoprotectenvironmental,socioeconomicandculturalinterests.Forthissystemtowork,commitmentsintheEIAshouldbewritteninamannerwhichclearlyprovidesthebasisforanindependentauditandalsoclarityfortheprojectproponenttoensureitisclearwhattheywillbeundertakingandwhen.Specialattentionshouldbepaidtomonitoringandnecessaryactionstoprotecthumanhealth;sensitivebiological,watershedorcoastalresources;andsensitivecultural,historicorarchaeologicalresources.



2 PUBLICPARTICIPATION2.1 IntroductionPublicparticipationandstakeholderinvolvementisanessentialandintegralpartoftheEIAprocessandCAFTADRcountrieshaveadoptedpolicies,regulationsandprocedurestorequirethatthisoccursthroughouttheEIAprocess.Reviewersshouldensurethatminimumrequirementsaremet,thatkeystakeholdersandimportantissueshavenotbeenignoredorunderrepresented,andthatopportunitiesforeffectivelyresolvingunderlyingconflictsareprovided.Theprocessforengagingthepublicandotherstakeholdersfailsifitisundertakenasanafterthoughtorpoorlyimplementedorviewedasaonetimeevent.Openinguprealopportunitiesforengagementbythepublic,localgovernments,andinterestedandaffectedinstitutionsrequiresadegreeofopennessanddisclosurewhichcanbeuncomfortableforsomewhofearthatitmightopenthedoortounnecessarycomplication,highercostsandlossofcontrol.However,theclearlessonsfromfailedpublicparticipationprocessesarejustthereverse:ifthepublicisengagedearly,andinanopenandtransparentmanner,theprocesscanhelptoavoidbothunnecessaryconflictandpotentialfinancialhardshipduetoprojectdelaysandoccasionallyevenpermitdenial.Thischapterwillrefertopublicandstakeholderinvolvementinterchangeably,butrequirementsforandthetimingofparticipationfordifferentsubgroupsmayvary.2.2 RequirementsforPublicParticipationPublicparticipationrequirementsofindividualcountriesshouldbeidentifiedandfollowed.Becausethereisnoeasyformulafordescribingwhatisrequiredtobesuccessfulinagivensituation,legalrequirementsforpublicparticipationareformulatedasminimumrequirementsoflaw,andgenerallydonotreflectbestpracticesdesignedtomeetthefullgoalsofpublicparticipationasanongoingprocess.ToaddresstheneedtotailorapublicparticipationplantothecircumstancessomeCAFTADRcountriesrequirethattheprojectproponentdevelopandimplementsuchaplan.TheEIAshoulddocumentthestepstakentomeetrequirementsandoverallgoalsofpublicparticipationincluding:when,whowasinvolved,whatthecommentswereandhowtheywereconsidered.

SectionB2addressesrequirementsforpublicparticipation.Includedinthischapterare:1. Requirementsforparticipation;2. Methodsforidentifyingandengagingaffected

andinterestedpublics;and3. Reportingonandresponsivenesstopublic

comments.



Reviewersshouldcarefullyexamine:

Wererequirementsforpublicparticipationidentifiedandcompliedwith? Wastimingofpublicnoticesufficienttoallowmeaningfulcomment? Whatdocumentsandinformationweredisclosedandwhen? Arethereobviousconcernedpublicgroupsthatwerenotinvolvedandconsulted? Wereopportunitiestoaddresspublicconcernsandinformationoverlooked?

2.3 MethodsforIdentifyingandEngagingAffectedandInterestedPublicSuccessfulpublicparticipationprocessesarebuiltuponplansdevelopedandtailoredtoaspecificprojectorprogram.Thissectionaddresses:(1)theidentificationofstakeholders,takingintoaccountthegoalsandobjectivesofthespecificprojectorprogramthatisbeinganalyzedintheassessmentandthepotentialissuesofconcern;and(2)methods,orthetoolsandtechniquestoengagetheidentifiedstakeholders,whenthosetoolsareemployed,includingrolesandresponsibilities.2.3.1 StakeholderIdentificationProjectproponentsandtheirconsultantsshouldmakeadiligentefforttoidentifyandengageindividualsandgroupsbothwithinandoutsideofgovernmentwhomighteitherbeaffectedbyorinterestedinaproposedprojectanditspotentialimpacts.Thegeographicscopeshouldincludetheareasinandaroundtheproject,fromtheperspectiveofbothpoliticalandnaturalresourceboundaries,inotherwords,thefullgeographicscopeofeachofthenaturalandhumanresourcespotentiallyaffectedbytheproposedaction.Identifyingthespecificissuespresentedbyaproposedprojectorprogramwillhelptorevealthekeystakeholders,andthestakeholdersalsowillhelptoidentifyissuesforanalysis.Additional

Publicparticipationrequirementsmayinclude: GeneralRequirementstoincludethepublicintheEIAprocess Public Notification: Rules about the use of media to announce the EIA process and the points of

participation for thepublicand requirements for theMinistryor theowner/developer toannounce thepublic consultations innationaland localmedia.Publicparticipationand consultation ideally shouldbeinitiatedatthescopingstageoftheEIAprocess,beforestepsaretakentopreparetheEIAdocument.ThiscanbeaccomplishedthroughapublicnoticeofintenttoprepareanEIAforaspecificaction.Suchanoticeofintentshouldincludeadescriptionoftheproposalanddescribehowthepublicmayparticipateintheprocess

PublicConsultation:Rulesabouttheconsultationsandobservationsthatthepublicpresents PublicDisclosure: Requirements that theMinistry or the owner/developer publish the EIA for review

duringthepublicconsultations Public Written Comment: Requirements for the public to have the opportunity to submit written

commentstotheMinistryandtheowner/developerinadditiontotheconsultations.Requirementsmayspecifywhethersolicitationofcommentsfromthepublicmusttakeplaceinformalpublichearings,ormayalloworencourageinformalworkshopsorinformationsessions

PublicHearings:Mostlawsonpublicparticipationprovidefortheopportunityforapublichearing.Thisisaformallegalprocesswithlittleopportunity,ifatall,forgiveandtakediscussiononoptions,alternativesandassumptions. It isforthatreason it isconsideredbymostexpertsonpublicparticipationtobetheleasteffectivemeansforactualpublicinvolvement

ConsiderationofPublicComments:Requirementsforpubliccommentstobeconsideredinthereviewbythegovernmentiftheyhaveasoundbasis

AllocationofCosts: Rulesaboutwhoneedstopay, i.e.theowner/developergenerallymustpayfortheconsultationswithsomeexceptionwheretheMinistrypays.



Potentialstakeholderstobeconsidered: Personslivingandworkinginthevicinityoftheproject

o individualcitizenswithspecificinterestso localresidentsandpropertyownerso localbusinessesandschools

Local,provincial,tribal,andnationalgovernmentalagencies,includingregulatorsandthoseresponsibleforinfrastructuresuchasroads,water,solidwaste

Citizen,civic,orreligiousgroupsrepresentingaffectedcommunities NGOswithspecificinterests Environmentalistsandconservationgroupsinterestedinprotection

andmanagementofsensitiveecosystemsandprotectedareas Recreationalusersandorganizations Farmers,fishermen,andotherswhoutilizeapotentiallyaffected

resource Industrygroupssuchasfisheries,forestry,andmining Technicalexperts Lowincome,minority,peoplewhomaybedisproportionately

affected Indigenouspeoples

stakeholderswillbediscoveredthroughouttheentireassessmentprocessandshouldbeincludedinsubsequentpublicparticipationactivities.2.3.2 EngagementMethodsand

TimingAvarietyoftoolsandtechniquescanbeutilizedduringthepublicprocessdependinguponthelevelofpublicparticipationsought,whichcanrangefrommerelyprovidinginformationtoworkinginacollaborativerelationship.Althoughlawsandregulationsmightonlyrequireaformalpublichearing,"talkingatthepublic"isnotasubstituteforactivelistening.Thatiswhypublichearingsarehistoricallypoorwaystoengagethepublic,anditisbesttoaugmentformalprocedureswithotherprocessestoenablethegiveandtakeofdialogueanddiscussion.Culturalnuancesmaymakeothertypesofoutreachhelpfulandinformative,suchashomevisitswitheldersorpeoplewhodonottrustpublicmeetings.Threeconsistentlessonslearnedforeffectivepublicparticipationprocessareto:

Adapttheprocesstomeettheneedsofthecircumstances Reachouttoandunderstandtheaudience StartearlyintheEIAprocess

Tobeeffective,publicparticipationshouldbetailoredtotheparticularaudiencesandmeetthegoalsofthespecificpublicengagementorcommunication,andthosegoalsshouldbeclear.Communicationswhichareearly,clearandresponsivebothtoinformationprovidedandconcernsraisedareessentialtobuildtrust.Theselectionandtimingofmethodsusedtoengagestakeholdersandthebroaderpublicshouldresultin:a)encouragementtoofferinformationimportanttoassessingimpactsanddevelopingalternatives,b)transparencyaboutwhatisproposed,itspotentialimpactsandmeansofaddressingthem,andc)aclearmessagetoallmembersofthepublicthattheirinputisimportantandusefulthroughouttheEIAprocess.



ScopingoccursearlyintheEIAprocesstoidentifykeyissues,andtofocusandspecifytheassessmentprocess.ManyoftheCAFTADRcountriesrequireprojectproponentsandtheirconsultantstoengagethepublicduringthisphase,beforebeginningworkontheEIA.Scopingtypicallyisconductedinameetingorseriesofmeetingsinvolvingtheprojectproponent,thepublic,andtheresponsiblegovernmentagencies.Thestructureofthemeetingsmayvarydependingonthenatureandcomplexityoftheproposedactionandonthenumberofinterestedparticipants.Smallscalescopingmeetingsmightbeconductedlikebusinessconferences,withparticipantscontributingininformaldiscussionsoftheissues.Largescalescopingmeetingsmightrequireamoreformalatmosphere,likethatofapublichearing,whereinterestedpartiesareaffordedtheopportunitytopresenttestimony.Othertypesofscopingmeetingscouldinclude"workshops,"withparticipantsinsmallworkgroupsexploringdifferentalternativesanddesigns.Meetingsmayneedtoincludeinterpreterstotranslateinformationforpeoplewhodonotspeak

thelanguageinwhichthemeetingisbeingconducted,asisthecasewithallproceduralandanalyticalstagesoftheEIAprocess.2.4 ReportingonandResponsivenesstoPublicCommentsPublicinputshouldbereflectedinchangesintheassessment,theprojectorprogram,ortocommitmentsformitigation.Projectproponentsshoulddocumentspecificstepstakentoengagethepublicandotherstakeholders,andthetimingofthoseengagements,bothbeforepreparingtheEIAandduringitsdevelopment.IncludedintheannexesoftheEIAshouldbeasummaryofpublicoutreachactivities,audience,numberofpersons,organizationsinvolved,concernsraised,responsestocommentsand,ifrequired,actualcopiesofwrittencommentsreceived.ReportingoncommentsobtainedthroughanyofthemethodsidentifiedaboveshouldbesufficientlycleartoenableanEIAreviewerandthepublictoassessresponsivenesstocomments,includingwhethertheywereunderstood,whethertheywerefoundtobeappropriateornotandwhy,andifappropriate,whatactionsweretakentorespondtothemandwhetherthoseactionsaresufficienttofullyaddresstheconcerns.Severalapproachesmightbeacceptabletosummarizeorincludeactualtranscriptsand

PublicparticipationtoolsoftenusedinanEIAprocess: Publicmeetings Publichearings Smallgroupmeetingsorworkshops Communityadvisorypanels Newsreleases,newsletterswithpubliccommentforms,

factsheet,flyers Mediafeaturestories,interviews,publicservice

announcements Project/programwebsites Publiccommentperiodssolicitingwrittencommentletters Informationrepositoriesorclearinghouses Speakersbureaus Surveys Mailinglists Briefingsbyandforpublicofficials UseofsocialnetworkingsuchasFacebook,Twitter,etc.ThereareseveralguidelinesthathavebeendevelopedbytheCAFTADRcountries(e.g.Guatemala)andinternationalorganizationsconcerningtheplanningandimplementationofpublicparticipationwhicharenotedinthereferencelist.PublicParticipationToolKitsareavailablefromEPAindifferentlanguagesathttp://www.epa.gov/international/toolkitandfromtheInternationalAssociationforPublicParticipationathttp://iap2.affiniscape.com/associations/4748/files/06Dec_Toolbox.pdfAlsoseehttp://www.epa.gov/care/library/community_culture.pdf



copiesoforalandwrittencommentsandtodemonstrateresponsivenessthroughnarrative,tablesandcrossreferencestospecificchanges.

VolumeIEIATechnicalReviewGuidelines:Tourism C.PROJECTANDALTERNATIVESDESCRIPTION


PROJECTDESIGNWhetheraresort,hotel,marina,dock,orconcession,theappropriateenvironmentalpracticesforconstructionandoperationbeginwithappropriatefacility,engineeringandsitedesigns.Thisdesigntakesintoaccount: Typeoffacilities,sizeandcapacity Location(Siting)andsiteplan Erosioncontrolanddrainageplans Constructionandareaofdisturbance Sizeoftheprojectfootprint Transportationandsiteaccess Emissions,effluentsandotherwastesresulting

fromconstructionandoperations Supportfacilitiesandservicesrequired Useoflocalinfrastructureandmanpower Closureandrestorationplans,ifapplicable Projecteduseanddemandonlocaltourist

attractionsTheultimategoalofthedesignistoprovideablueprintfortheconstructionandoperationofanenvironmentallyandeconomicallydesirableproject,fromstarttofinish.Mapsandplanviewsmustbedevelopedtoshowthelayoutoftheprojectandproximityofsensitivereceptorsofenvironmentalimpacts.Thedesignmustalsodescribesizeandcapacityaswellasdemandsonresourcesandforinfrastructure.

C. PROJECTANDALTERNATIVESDESCRIPTION1 INTRODUCTIONEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentstartswiththedescriptionoftheproposedprojectwithsufficientdetailtosupportacredibleassessmentofimpactsforboththeproposedactionsandreasonableandfeasiblealternatives.ThissectioncontainssomeofthemostimportantinformationintheEIAsinceitprovidesthecoredataforforecastingpotentialenvironmentalimpacts,andforreducing,eliminating,mitigatingorinlimitedcircumstancescompensatingforthoseimpacts.Themainelementsofthedescriptionoftheproposedprojectandalternativesshouldinclude:

Purposeandneed:Aclearstatementwithsupportinginformationontheprojectobjectivesandjustificationontheprojectobjectivesandjustification(SeeC2)

Descriptionoftheproposedprojectdetailing: Howitmeetsthepurposeandneed

(SeeC2) Facility,siteandengineeringdesignin

sufficientdetailtosupportanaccurateidentificationandassessmentofimpacts(SeeC3)

Coverageofallphasesoftheprojectbothinchronologicaltimefromsitepreparationtoconstructiontooperationtocompletiontomonitoringandsitemanagementandalsophasesifthereareplanstoincreasethecapacityoraddfacilitiesandamenitiesatlaterpointsintime(seeC4)

Expectedreleasesintotheenvironment(SeeC4) Expecteddemandsonresources(e.g.water,energy,disturbedandpermanentchangesto

landcover)andinfrastructure(e.g.transportation,drinkingwatertreatmentanddelivery,solidwaste,wastewatercollectionandtreatment,energyandcommunicationsinfrastructure)(SeeC4)

Alternatives:anidentificationofalternativesformeetingthepurposeandneedwhichareeconomicallyandtechnicallyfeasible,andsufficientdetailforthemostappropriatealternativestopermitcomparativeassessmentofimpacts.Thiscanincludemodificationstotheproposedproject,itsdesign,location,siteconfiguration,scopeand/oroperations,orentirelydifferentprojectstomeetthepurposeandneed.(SeeC5)

Documentationoftheeconomicviabilityoftheproposedproject.



2 DOCUMENTATIONOFPURPOSEANDNEEDThedescriptionofaproposedprojectbeginswithdescriptionandsupportinganalysisoftheunderlyingpurposeandneedfortheproject,sometimesreferredtoastheobjectivesandjustificationfortheproject.Indescribingtheunderlyingpurposeandneed,theEIAshouldbemorespecificthanassertionsthatmoretourismandeconomicdevelopmentmightbeneeded.TheassessmentofimpactswillbedifferentbasedontheresponsestoseveralquestionsthatneedtobemadeclearintheEIA:

Whatisdrawingtouristactivitytotheproposedlocation? Whoisservedbythetourismrelatedproject(s)andforwhatpurpose(s)? Whatarethedemographicsofthetargettouristsandsourcesofinformation? Whereisthetourismrelatedactivityneededandwhatformmustittake? Howdoestheproposedprojectadvancenationalandlocalpoliciesandplansforattracting

touristactivityand/orprotectingsensitiveecosystemsandculturalresources? Howmuchsupportfortourismisneededandwhenaredifferentquantitiesandqualityof

experienceneeded? Whatarethelevelsofuncertaintyintheassessmentofneeds? Willlocalresidentsbedisplacedbythetourismdevelopment?

Thepurposeandneeddescriptionalsoshouldhelptoexplainwhethertheproposedprojectisanewproject,anexpansionorareplacement/maintenanceofanexistingproject;whether,howandwhytheprojectmightbephasedinovertime.Itshouldalsoidentifywhoistheintendedaudience,i.e.willitbeforlocaluseorforvisitorscomingtothearea?Willitbeuseddomesticallyorservethosetravelingfromothercountries?Finally,asnotedaboveinthequestions,theprojectjustificationshouldelaborateontheconsistencyoftheproposedprojectwithanynational,regionalorlocallanduseoreconomicdevelopmentplansandrelatedtourismsectorincentives.ThepurposeandneedfortheprojectwillhelptodefinethescopeforpurposesoftheEIA.Forexample,ifaharborisbeingbuilt,itisnotnecessarilyatourismproject,butifaharborisbeingexpandedorrelieduponforcruiseshipswhichwillbeameansofaccesstothetouristdestination,thenitsimpactwouldbeincludedinthetourismrelatedEIApreparation.3 PROJECTDESCRIPTIONInformationontheproposedprojectandalternativesshouldbesufficientnotonlytodescribehowitmeetsthepurposeandneedbutasabasisforidentifyingandassessingitsimpacts.Thisprojectdescriptionshouldincludethenaturesizesandtypeofprojectandallrelatedfacilitiesandactivities,itsdesign,construction,operation,sitedesignandlandarea,subsequentanticipatedexpansionanddecommissioningorfutureuseaswellastheprofileofdirectreleasesintotheenvironment,employment,resourceandwastestreams,relatedtransportationandthelikeandusageofsurroundingtouristattractionswhichareelaboratedbelowfortourismfacilitiesandactivities.



3.1 GeneralInformationTheproposedproject,generalinformationwilltypicallyinclude:

Projectproponents Projectteam,includingthosefinancing,constructingandoperatingtheprojectaswellasthe

teampreparingtheEIAdocumento Names,contactinformationo Professionsandexperience/certificationso Experiencewiththistypeofprojecto DemonstratetheappropriateinterdisciplinarymakeupoftheEIAteam

Legalandregulatoryframeworks:informationshouldincludedetailsabout:o Landownership(includingifap

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